Exhibition highlights feminism, art, and activism of South Asian women (photos)

KATHMANDU: A new art exhibition titled Feminist Future: Art, Activism, and South Asian Womanhood has been launched at the Taragaon Cultural Center in Bouddha.

Curated by Dr. Arshiya Lokhandwala, the exhibition aims to explore the complex dynamics of feminism and gender politics in South Asia.

The event is a collaboration between Taragaon Next and the Saraf Foundation, and it will remain open for three months.

Featuring works from ten women artists across India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, the exhibition includes creations from Indian artists Anita Dubey, Mithu Sen, Sheba Chhachhi, and Pushpamala N.

Alongside them are Nepalese artists Ashmina Ranjit, Bidhata KC, and Uma Bista, as well as Sri Lankan artist Anoli Perera, Pakistani artist Naiza Khan, and Bangladeshi artist Tayeba Begum Lipi.

The exhibition tackles themes of patriarchy, traditional thinking, and gender politics, with the artists challenging societal structures and advocating for women’s autonomy.

On the opening day, Ashmina Ranjit presented Sita: The Ideal Wife 2025, critiquing the limitations imposed on women by Brahmanical patriarchy, particularly through the ritual of Kanyadaan in traditional marriages.

The exhibition also connects the struggles of women’s rights in Nepal to broader South Asian contexts.

According to Namita Saraf, Founder Director of the Saraf Foundation, the exhibition focuses on exploring contemporary issues through art.

Pushpamala N.’s Abhega—The Passion 2012 challenges traditional depictions of female characters in the Ramayana, while Tayeba Begum Lipi’s works explore the complexities and violent tendencies in marriage.

Uma Bista critiques the Chaupadi practice, shedding light on the struggles of Nepali women.

Students can visit the exhibition for Rs 200, while general visitors are required to pay Rs 300.